Chapter 1372 Acting Chief Executive Officer

Many things often have omens before they happen, but it depends on whether people have the ability to discover the truth.

Just like ants moving before an earthquake—everyone knows about it, but very few actually pay attention.

Sometimes what we lack is not the truth, but the eyes to see it.

This is also why Zhao Fusheng’s foresight became a huge advantage; after all, a helmsman who sees further is undoubtedly great news for a company.

But even so, Zhao Fusheng dared not slack off. He still diligently and earnestly reviewed company reports every day, because he knew that the future was too elusive—it could change at any moment.

Let alone being a reborn person, even a prophet could be misled.

During the honeymoon trip, although Zhao Fusheng had been handling company matters via email, upon returning to the capital, he found a pile of work accumulated on his desk.

Future Group Headquarters, Chairman’s Office.

“Why so many documents?” Zhao Fusheng looked helplessly at Zheng Yao across from him, feeling that this woman must be setting him up.

Zheng Yao looked innocent, blinking her big eyes at Zhao Fusheng: “I don’t like hearing that. You went out for over a month, honeymoon trip, just the two of you. For minor matters, I could email you, but major decisions still had to wait for you to come back and make the call, right?”

As she spoke, she deliberately sighed, signaling to Zhao Fusheng that she was hurt because he had wronged her.

Zhao Fusheng barely restrained himself from throwing the documents in her face, took a deep breath, and said, “How about this: I’ll give you a month off. What do you think?”

“Two months!”

Zheng Yao decisively held up two fingers and said without hesitation, “Since the company was founded, I haven’t had a single vacation. You and your wife happily went on holiday while I stayed to guard the nest. It’s unfair. I want a vacation too!”

“No, at most one month.” Zhao Fusheng looked at Zheng Yao earnestly and said, “The company can’t do without you as CEO. You know I don’t usually handle day-to-day matters. If you’re not here, a short time is fine, but any longer and problems will arise.”

He meant it. From the early days of Future Advertising to the establishment of Future Group, the entire company’s operations had been under Zheng Yao’s leadership. She was most familiar with every aspect, and she knew all department heads inside out. As Zhao Fusheng said, if Zheng Yao took a short break, it was fine, but too long would cause chaos in Future Group’s operations.

“Fine, one month it is.” Glaring fiercely at Zhao Fusheng, Zheng Yao turned to leave. But before she reached the door, Zhao Fusheng said, “Use this month to find a boyfriend. Don’t keep drifting alone. People at the company are already saying you’re an old maid who likes women.”

Hearing this, Zheng Yao stumbled. She barely resisted the urge to turn back and fight that bastard Zhao Fusheng, comforting herself with the thought that “a wonderful vacation is about to begin,” and left his office.

Watching Zheng Yao’s retreating figure, a smile crept onto Zhao Fusheng’s lips.

He believed Zheng Yao understood his meaning.

Some words don’t need to be said too explicitly. For truly smart people, a slight hint is enough for them to grasp your intention.

Not to mention partners like Zhao Fusheng and Zheng Yao, who had worked together for years.

This matter was brought up by Dong Chenxi. She said many people at the company were gossiping that Chief Financial Officer Bai, CEO Zheng, and herself—the head of Future Investment—were all single women, leading to some rumors.

Zhao Fusheng didn’t care at first, but Fan Baobao reminded him. In her words, “You’re a man, so it doesn’t matter—you always come out ahead. But those women still need to marry and have children. You can’t ruin their reputations.”

Only then did Zhao Fusheng decide to give Zheng Yao a vacation, letting her rest and maybe find a boyfriend.

Of course, the price was that Zhao Fusheng himself had to hold down the fort at the company for a month.

In fact, no sooner had Zheng Yao left than Zhao Fusheng regretted it.

Because he found that there were far too many things to handle.

One moment he was on a conference call discussing real estate plans, the next he was chatting with the strategic planning department about the progress of the agricultural and sideline products processing base in Western Sichuan.

In short, there was never a moment of rest.

It wasn’t until one in the afternoon that Zhao Fusheng had time to take a break and eat lunch.

Yes, he was so busy he couldn’t even find time to eat.

“What else is on the schedule?”

Sitting in his office, Zhao Fusheng asked a young, pretty girl.

The girl, Lin Xue, was Zheng Yao’s secretary, temporarily assigned as his assistant. She had arranged Zhao Fusheng’s entire schedule for the day.

Lin Xue graduated from the School of Economics and Management at Qinghua University, the best in the country. After being recruited by Future Group, Zheng Yao had been grooming her for middle management, which was why she kept her close.

“This afternoon, you’re meeting with representatives from Yahoo to discuss the next phase of our cooperation with Yahoo China.” Lin Xue held a folder and respectfully said to Zhao Fusheng, “Also, I’ve arranged dinner with Mr. Zhu Yushi this evening. He plans to set up stores for the promotion of Brain Gold, and we’re considering taking on this campaign.”

Frowning, Zhao Fusheng looked at Lin Xue and asked, “Brain Gold is setting up stores?”

“Yes, I heard Mr. Zhu Yushi plans to expand the market…” Lin Xue was a bit puzzled but answered Zhao Fusheng’s question honestly.

“Tell the relevant departments we won’t participate in this.” Zhao Fusheng waved his hand at Lin Xue and said, “I’ll discuss this with Zhu Yushi later.”

Zhao Fusheng had long decided that Future Group would not get involved in the advertising of the health supplement industry, including pharmaceuticals. He would not allow the company to touch it.

The reason was simple: the waters were too deep. For instance, so-called medicines and health products like Hongmao Yaojiu, Huiren Shenbao, and Cao Qingfeng’s rheumatism pain relief capsules—which of them didn’t have scandals?

Not to mention the scams like Infinitus, Amway, and the Quanjian fire therapy that would become popular a decade later.

China’s health supplement industry had always been a big pitfall.

“Okay, I understand.” Although she found the boss’s decision hard to understand, Lin Xue didn’t ask too many questions and nodded in agreement.

Even though Zhao Fusheng’s words might render many people’s efforts over several nights useless, there was no help for it—he was the boss and had the right to decide everything.

After sending Lin Xue out temporarily, Zhao Fusheng sat in his executive chair, half-closing his eyes, resting while thinking about the company’s current situation.

Compared to other domestic companies, Future Group’s development was undoubtedly very good.

First, the company didn’t have many complicated relationships; it was an enterprise solely controlled by Zhao Fusheng. Moreover, due to its functions, although it was called a group, the subsidiaries were mostly independent, only cooperating when resource integration was needed.

At Future Network, the main project was acting as an agent for World of Warcraft, while also developing their own programs. Dong Guoxiang had been trying this, and Zhao Fusheng supported it, knowing that once the era of smartphones arrived, those small programs would bring him endless wealth.

As for Future Advertising, with the establishment of the advertising alliance, it had formed a rival force with Baidu’s Perfect Oriental Advertising Company. Since Zheng Yao personally oversaw it, Zhao Fusheng had nothing to worry about. That woman was now known as the female demon of the advertising world, a formidable character who could send chills down anyone’s spine.

Future Investment was also nothing to worry about. Zhao Fusheng had previously had a talk with Dong Chenxi, warning the company’s middle and senior management. He believed they had realized their problems and would no longer be carried away.

As for Future Film, it didn’t matter much. The film industry’s profits were relatively average—a steady but slow business. Zhao Fusheng’s requirements for Ye Jing were simple: first ensure profitability, then slowly expand their influence. The ultimate goal was to build a multinational entertainment company.

Yes, a multinational company.

Far away in Seoul, the project of Future Group’s Korean branch was progressing smoothly. Through Liang Jingyu’s earlier plan, they had generally established a foothold in Korea. What remained was to quietly accumulate strength and seize opportunities for expansion.

These were the main companies under Future Group. Others, like the comic studio, were affiliated with Future Film. The real estate company was still in the preparatory stage, having only acquired a few plots of land. Projects including the investment in Western Sichuan were directly under group headquarters, with Zheng Yao having assigned dedicated personnel to monitor them.

One had to admit that Old Zheng was truly a qualified professional manager. Perhaps she wasn’t as capable as some specialists, but in terms of execution, she was outstanding.

Sometimes Zhao Fusheng wondered whether he had made Zheng Yao, or Zheng Yao had made him. In his previous life, without the stage of Future Group, she would have ended up as a frustrated, failed-marriage returnee. But now, she radiated a different brilliance.

Life’s circumstances are truly too奇妙. You never know how much a person can change in a different environment.